A Tall Glass of Tomorrowland by Nancy Schatz Alton I am drinking you in the way you turn away from me the end of your ‘bye caught and tossed to the world which now waits for you as I watch your backside high-waisted, giant-pocketed jeans red sweatshirt, perfect-fit, very neat made especially for the […]
Category: Parenting
A Wave We Ride
“Difficulty becomes familiar, at least, if no less difficult. The trouble with setting goals is that you’re constantly working toward what you used to want.” –Sarah Manguso Can I be brave enough to repeat what I’ve failed at, repeatedly? I read a blog about how kids are already who they are, that we make […]
I’ll Never Stop Writing This Story
I’m waiting for my story to be complete. Then I can finish writing my memoir. But last night I freaked our during my daughter’s excessively long homework time. Which is long because of her slow processing speed. And it’s soaked with her tears because she’s sensitive and I’m a monster. Although I’m not a monster: […]
Bliss
“Mom, what’s that? When are those photographs from?” “Your Dad took those. He took pictures for my first managing editor photo. It’s about a year before I was pregnant with you.” Whoosh. I’m young, maybe 29 or 30. I am so thrilled in these shots. I’ve made it! I’ve arrived! I’m managing editor of a […]
She’s 16!
as the wind tangles the rain* It took so long to learn that the breeze on my face started as the wind in China. Much like it took 16 years and no time at all to know you woke me up to love. My all-encompassing forward motion held itself to your brown-eyes and I was […]
Startled by Grace
To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. —Emily Dickenson Isn’t this how life feels? So often I just feel startled. Like when I walk into book club and am bombarded with the news that an acquaintance has cancer. Then I’m hurtling back and stumbling forward. And eating way too much […]
Leap, Land, Leap, Land
There’s no one like a friend you’ve known for 30 years to cut through your maze of words and hand you back an idea. Last night my friend Jen came over with her family and we chilled and talked and chilled and talked. Late in the evening, we talked about our fears: tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, […]
Get Loud, Nancy
It’s been so quiet here. Life has been so loud, lately. Someone asked me once how often they should update their blog. I said update it only when you have something to say. Lately I’m saying so much at so many other places. The feature I wrote about trying to pass paid family leave in […]
Tired of Traveling Alone
We are ghost and shadow steeped in skin too hot to drink yet cold to the touch. I read a blog called the 27 powers. I don’t know what the 27 powers are. I have 27 powers. I can see too much. But I can’t see the whole story. […]
A Full Day’s Work by 9am
Yesterday I wrote a Facebook post about how parenting is hard, and I asked people to compliment a parent even if the only compliment you could come up with was about their shoes. Because who doesn’t love shoes? I made sure to note that I was not having a hard time parenting at that exact […]